Effects of calcination and activation temperature on dry reforming catalysts

The effect of calcination temperatures on dry reforming catalysts supported on high surface area alumina Ni/gamma-Al2O3 (SA-6175) was studied experimentally. In this study, the prepared catalyst was tested in a micro tubular reactor using temperature ranges of 500, 600, 700 and 800 degrees C at atmospheric pressure, using a total flow rate of 33 ml/min consisting of 3 ml/min of N-2, 15 ml/min of CO2 and 15 ml/min of CH4. The calcination was carried out in the range of 500-900 degrees C. The catalyst is activated inside the reactor at 500-800 degrees C using hydrogen gas. It was observed that calcination enhances catalyst activity which increases as calcination and reaction temperatures were increased. The highest conversion was obtained at 800 degrees C reaction temperature by using catalyst calcined at 900 degrees C and activation at 700 degrees C. The catalyst characterization conducted supported the observed experimental results. (C) 2010 King Saud University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.